Ti INTRODUCTION. 



Perhaps the public may expect that I should give them the reasons 

 why I write this Treatise, when we already have some fire or six 

 works by American authors on the same subject. 



In the first place it may be remarked, that we have no work on 

 this subject, as it appears to me, sufficiently practical. I may not be 

 an impartial judge of this question, but from a careful perusal of the 

 various works extant, I have been forcibly led to form such a con- 

 clusion. 



Secondly, such works as we have that are worthy of consideration, 

 are, I think, too prosy on subjects not immediately connected with 

 the interests the pockets of the American public. We are a go-a-head 

 people, and as a general thing, we read more for profit than for plea- 

 sure ; and therefore, when we purchase a Treatise on " Domestic 

 Poultry," we look to the practical part of it for a remuneration of 

 what it costs. Occasionally a gentleman of leisure will desire a 

 full and scientific illustration of all the minor points pertaining to the 

 subject ; but the great mass of the people desire a plain, compact 

 Treatise, that is to the point on all matters relating to the successful 

 management of poultry. In my opinion these works occupy too 

 much space with the writings of ancient authors and modern foreign 

 writers generally. We have our own skillful breeders of poultry, 

 whose experience is unsurpassed, and whose opinions are far more 

 valuable to the people of the United States than those of foreign 

 writers on this subject. 



Thirdly, the march of mind at the present day is onward; and 

 progress, of course, is the result. Hence where there is a chance of 

 improvement in any thing which exists among us, the opportunity is 

 quickly embraced. Now I think a new work on the practical man- 

 agement of poultry is much needed, in order to keep pace with the 

 new developments in regard to the various species of fowls which are 

 creating so great an excitement. Indeed, it is impossible to obtain 

 through the publications of the day on this subject any thing beyond 

 a mere fraction of the important information now existing among us. 



Since these Treatises were published, numerous importations of new 

 and rare breeds of fowls have been made at a great cost, the descrip- 

 tions of which nowhere appear in the works now before us. Now, it 

 will be, not only my aim to improve in the matter, but also in the 

 price of my work. The books of the present day, that are of any 

 merit on the subject of poultry, are sold at one dollar. The price of 

 this work will show that I have a regard for the pockets of my read- 



